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14 Powerful Photos Of Women Doing “Men’s Work” That Prove There’s No Such Thing As “Men’s Work”
136Kviews
How many times have you heard the old expression, "this is a man's job"? We're pretty tired of it, and fortunately, so is California photographer Chris Crisman. With his latest photo series, Women's Work, he's documenting the women who do those 'men's jobs' with pride, and he's breaking down gender stereotypes in the process.
The story of Women's Work starts in early 2016 when Crisman heard from an art producer that a friend of hers had become a butcher, and realized that he had never actually met a female butcher. After meeting and photographing the strong woman, Heather Marold Thomason, Crisman was inspired to find other women taking on unusual jobs that are traditionally male-dominated. From farmers to firefighters, to lobster fishers, the professional photographer was able to locate and capture dozens of inspiring women from across the nation, and finally rolled out the project in October 2016.
Though Women's Work is now 'out there,' Crisman insists that it's a work-in-progress. "There are so many people with interesting jobs that we would still love to include in the project, but we’ll get there. I believe that Women’s Work is the type of project where the purpose does not have an expiration date," he told APE in a November interview. The Penn Valley-based photographer is the father of 2 young children, including a daughter, whom he encourages to dream without limits and pursue her passions, even if others see them as unconventional.
More info: Chris Crisman Photography (h/t: APE)
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Sadie Samuels, Lobster Fisher In Rockport, Maine
Leeann Johnson, Haul Truck Driver At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Round Mountain, Nevada
Women Doing 'men's Work'
That must be an excellent thing to do when stressed "I (BAM!)AM(BAM!)NOT(BAM!)ANGRY(BAM!!)!!"
Alison Goldblum, Property Developer In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Heather Marold Thomason, Butcher And Owner Of Primal Supply Meats In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Christina Burris, Brewer And Operations Manager Of St. Benjamin’s Brewing In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mira Nakashima, Designer And Woodworker At George Nakashima Woodworking In New Hope, Pennsylvania
Judy Bowman, Process Operator, Round Mountain Gold Mine, Round Mountain, Nv
Jordan Ainsworth, Mill Operator At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Round Mountain, Nevada
Kris Alvarez, Senior Geologist At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Nevada
Never knew that being a geologist was a man job (I am a student of geology and never saw it that way). Is time to stop giving stereotyopes to every job or thing you see around!
Nancy Poli, Pig Farmer At Stryker Farms In Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
I absolutely love pigs! I have always wanted to own a small farm with a few piggies in there.
Carol Warn, Leach Pad Operator At Marigold Mining Company In Valmy, Nevada
Way too limited.....need to travel the actual globe and take photos of women who keep communities together because of their back-breaking work.
This is great and I love to see the breaking of harmful stereotypes! However... Sometimes I have random thoughts that one of the big problems with femminism is actually leaning too much over proving that women can be as good as man, even to the extent of literally boyish women being considered as feminist heroes. Now, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT alone. But... It would be even more empowering with the ADDITION of men proudly doing what's considered "women's work". It would show that the femininity is being embraced, not diminished as "inferior work for inferior beings", or "easy work for weak creatures". Anyway... For these women, I have nothing but compliments.
Damn I was 19 minutes too late! That was exactly what I was going to say! I would love to see it be more of a 'breaking down stupid job stereotypes' and show men as nannys', stay at home dads, nurses, cake decorators etc. Anything that has been considered 'girly' in the past and preventing men from doing what they really love too. I love that this encourages little girls to become whomever they want and I would like the same for little boys.
Both are part of the same problem. Women are seen as weak so jobs typically associated with women are seen a weak choices for men. It's harmful to everyone, and we're probably missing on a LOT of talent and skills because of it.
High five!
Geoff I know plenty of men who enjoy that sort of thing. My parents are divorced and my dad loves cooking and he always cooks for us and it is really good! He likes doing "women's work."
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
...who said men "really love" to do anything like decorating cakes and staying at home being dads?
The main idea of proving that women can be just a tough as men doesn't come from degrading anything feminine, but from wanting to dispel the wrong notion that femininity equals weakness. A huge problem in gender interactions is the clash of toxic masculinity with anything feminine: any sign of it on a man is seen as a debilitating flaw for all of manhood. Wanting to show people that women are not physically weak is a good thing on all levels: it challenges preconceived notions of skills and ability for both men and women who would think women (or that any gender, really) can't do certain things because of their gender, rather than individual limitations.
I know where the idea comes from, Laury. Who doesn't? I just wanted to point onto some unexpected and unwanted results caused by the voids within our actions.
*High fives*
I am a woman, weak of body but strong of mind. I never wanted to be 'like a man', these jobs here give me the heebies, I prefer lab science. BUT if a woman is strong and likes this, then she should be considered for it. Feminists that start rejecting feminine traits are going too far [they probably haven't got any...]. I actually like being feminine and female. Emancipation to me is that I am not spoken to like a retard, that I am not solely a sex object at work and that I get the same opportunities if I can handle them. I certainly don't want to be a man, nor do I want to be like one. I have my own gender and where I stand it's quite awsome. Good on the ladies doing these jobs, why not?
That's exactly my point, Little Menace. All of what you said, probably. No one said they shouldn't do these jobs. It's just that there's too much glorification of "manly" women (hence the "" on "manly"), and not enough femininity embracing within the context of feminism. I am a feminist too, and I can be very girly and kinda of a tomboy too, depending on my mood. But that doesn't really matter because, let me quote you "Emancipation to me is that I am not spoken to like a retard, that I am not solely a sex object at work and that I get the same opportunities if I can handle them. I certainly don't want to be a man, nor do I want to be like one. I have my own gender and where I stand it's quite awsome."
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
That is also the problem with many people who call themselves feminists. Also usually people who call themselves feminist are pro women instead. Feminism if I recall should be about equality and maybe should be called menism. Since it should be about both genders being equal. For an article that's supposed to be about gender equality (Gender means both man and woman) I see awefull few men. Just women.
The article is about how women can do jobs that are typically seen as men's jobs. True, an article about men doing jobs that as typically seen as women's would be good as well. For the record, though, there is already "meninism", which is more aimed at complaining about what women have rather than effecting actual changes in how masculinity is expected to be presented in society. Feminists who are "pro-women" are so because women are being put down violently in so many ways in society. Not that it doesn't happen to men, but women much more so. When you want equality, you can't pretend to raise both sides equally at the same time, you have to raise the side that is lower first.
What feminists always do wrong is that they assume that society (which they conveniently call patriarchy, what a nice way to bias the debate from the start) oppresses women and privileges men. Meninists are proofing that this is not true, that there is a lot of pressure on men and a lot of privilege for women in today's western societies - and are ridiculed and silenced with the worst ad hominem attacks possible. Under every post which highlights the burdens of men in today's society, you'll find some feminists ranting about "male tears", "fragile masculinity" or "toxic masculinity". It's no wonder feminism has become the icon of hypocrisy.
If they can handle the physical demands of the job, then go for it. Just remember though that women are set up best for endurance, and not burst strength. That's why genetically men were the hunters, and required different strengths, while women used their endurance for everything else.
Golly John L, Thanks a ton for the mansplainin' !
How the fuck are these "men's jobs"? Women have been doing these things since ever. The only men's job I can think of is sperm donor. There is literally nothing else that requires a penis.
Male prostitute.
Of course there is. Penis model!
You're right, but some jobs women will never do as well as men, or vice versa. Some jobs are gender specific or to gain maximum productivity would be best suited to A) Man or B) Woman.
Uh... Sam... I feel like your comment is generalizing men and women. Obviously, people have their strong suits and their talents, and people who are good at certain things tend to be good at certain jobs. But I don't think there is a trait or a talent that you could say FOR CERTAIN that all of the men or women in the world have. Could you give me an example of what you were talking about in your comment?
This is great and I love to see the breaking of harmful stereotypes! However... Sometimes I have random thoughts that one of the big problems with femminism is actually leaning too much over proving that women can be as good as man, even to the extent of literally boyish women being considered as feminist heroes. Now, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT alone. But... It would be even more empowering with the ADDITION of men proudly doing what's considered "women's work". It would show that the femininity is being embraced, not diminished as "inferior work for inferior beings", or "easy work for weak creatures". Anyway... For these women, I have nothing but compliments.
Damn I was 19 minutes too late! That was exactly what I was going to say! I would love to see it be more of a 'breaking down stupid job stereotypes' and show men as nannys', stay at home dads, nurses, cake decorators etc. Anything that has been considered 'girly' in the past and preventing men from doing what they really love too. I love that this encourages little girls to become whomever they want and I would like the same for little boys.
Both are part of the same problem. Women are seen as weak so jobs typically associated with women are seen a weak choices for men. It's harmful to everyone, and we're probably missing on a LOT of talent and skills because of it.
High five!
Geoff I know plenty of men who enjoy that sort of thing. My parents are divorced and my dad loves cooking and he always cooks for us and it is really good! He likes doing "women's work."
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
...who said men "really love" to do anything like decorating cakes and staying at home being dads?
The main idea of proving that women can be just a tough as men doesn't come from degrading anything feminine, but from wanting to dispel the wrong notion that femininity equals weakness. A huge problem in gender interactions is the clash of toxic masculinity with anything feminine: any sign of it on a man is seen as a debilitating flaw for all of manhood. Wanting to show people that women are not physically weak is a good thing on all levels: it challenges preconceived notions of skills and ability for both men and women who would think women (or that any gender, really) can't do certain things because of their gender, rather than individual limitations.
I know where the idea comes from, Laury. Who doesn't? I just wanted to point onto some unexpected and unwanted results caused by the voids within our actions.
*High fives*
I am a woman, weak of body but strong of mind. I never wanted to be 'like a man', these jobs here give me the heebies, I prefer lab science. BUT if a woman is strong and likes this, then she should be considered for it. Feminists that start rejecting feminine traits are going too far [they probably haven't got any...]. I actually like being feminine and female. Emancipation to me is that I am not spoken to like a retard, that I am not solely a sex object at work and that I get the same opportunities if I can handle them. I certainly don't want to be a man, nor do I want to be like one. I have my own gender and where I stand it's quite awsome. Good on the ladies doing these jobs, why not?
That's exactly my point, Little Menace. All of what you said, probably. No one said they shouldn't do these jobs. It's just that there's too much glorification of "manly" women (hence the "" on "manly"), and not enough femininity embracing within the context of feminism. I am a feminist too, and I can be very girly and kinda of a tomboy too, depending on my mood. But that doesn't really matter because, let me quote you "Emancipation to me is that I am not spoken to like a retard, that I am not solely a sex object at work and that I get the same opportunities if I can handle them. I certainly don't want to be a man, nor do I want to be like one. I have my own gender and where I stand it's quite awsome."
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
That is also the problem with many people who call themselves feminists. Also usually people who call themselves feminist are pro women instead. Feminism if I recall should be about equality and maybe should be called menism. Since it should be about both genders being equal. For an article that's supposed to be about gender equality (Gender means both man and woman) I see awefull few men. Just women.
The article is about how women can do jobs that are typically seen as men's jobs. True, an article about men doing jobs that as typically seen as women's would be good as well. For the record, though, there is already "meninism", which is more aimed at complaining about what women have rather than effecting actual changes in how masculinity is expected to be presented in society. Feminists who are "pro-women" are so because women are being put down violently in so many ways in society. Not that it doesn't happen to men, but women much more so. When you want equality, you can't pretend to raise both sides equally at the same time, you have to raise the side that is lower first.
What feminists always do wrong is that they assume that society (which they conveniently call patriarchy, what a nice way to bias the debate from the start) oppresses women and privileges men. Meninists are proofing that this is not true, that there is a lot of pressure on men and a lot of privilege for women in today's western societies - and are ridiculed and silenced with the worst ad hominem attacks possible. Under every post which highlights the burdens of men in today's society, you'll find some feminists ranting about "male tears", "fragile masculinity" or "toxic masculinity". It's no wonder feminism has become the icon of hypocrisy.
If they can handle the physical demands of the job, then go for it. Just remember though that women are set up best for endurance, and not burst strength. That's why genetically men were the hunters, and required different strengths, while women used their endurance for everything else.
Golly John L, Thanks a ton for the mansplainin' !
How the fuck are these "men's jobs"? Women have been doing these things since ever. The only men's job I can think of is sperm donor. There is literally nothing else that requires a penis.
Male prostitute.
Of course there is. Penis model!
You're right, but some jobs women will never do as well as men, or vice versa. Some jobs are gender specific or to gain maximum productivity would be best suited to A) Man or B) Woman.
Uh... Sam... I feel like your comment is generalizing men and women. Obviously, people have their strong suits and their talents, and people who are good at certain things tend to be good at certain jobs. But I don't think there is a trait or a talent that you could say FOR CERTAIN that all of the men or women in the world have. Could you give me an example of what you were talking about in your comment?